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Do certain songs take you back in time to special moments in your life?

It is undeniable that our hearts and minds are enriched by songs we hear. Its power to evoke emotion, nourish our spirits, and awaken memories is without end. At Artman, we see that power every day.

You can bring the gift of music to our residents. Let me show you how the power of music makes a difference by sharing Irene’s story.

In a recent music therapy session, Irene listened to a song that she remembered from her past. That simple act helped her recall the address of a former home. With the help of Google maps, the staff at Artman was able to find the house. When Irene saw images of the home, heartfelt memories came to mind of her children growing up – all from a single song.

In her words…

“It’s been a long time since I could remember a song and hum it. It brings me so much joy. The music program is the best thing Artman could have added to my agenda.

The music has helped me remember dancing with my husband in our home, and how we fell in love during the war. The songs have helped me remember recent things, and brought back a lot of special memories.

Music is everything. Memories are dear things. You have to hold onto them; and at 95, I’m so happy to have mine and I’m glad to have the music.”

The relationship between music and wellbeing is clear. Its therapeutic nature strengthens emotional, physical, and cognitive health. Activities such as singing, playing instruments, and even just listening to music, provide rewarding experiences. Our music therapist is specially trained to develop activities shaped around each resident’s individual life experiences.

Coffee, hot chocolate and pastries bring a sparkle to the residents’ eyes and smiles to their faces while at Artman’s Inspiration Café! These hot beverages aren’t the only explanation behind the smiles. But it is the exchange of kindness and attentiveness shown throughout their conversations which displays how much the residents care about each other.

Much concern is taken with the placement of the residents around the tables. Walkers and chairs are put off to the side to make room for the wheelchairs. There is an unexpressed knowledge which you quickly notice that no one shall drink their coffee alone.

The café opens right after Tuesday’s mass and that’s when the orders start pouring in. Residents watch as I use the coffee maker to make one cup of Joe after another interchanged with a few hot chocolates and a stand-alone cappuccino. I find myself refilling the water tank repeatedly to keep the orders fulfilled. And before I know it, everyone has a cup of something in front of them.

Mary Cassidy, CTRS, household coordinator for Artman’s Penllyn community shares, “The residents love coming to the café. It gives them a chance to socialize with residents from other households and to enjoy an afternoon coffee and treat. The residents have come to know that the café will be open Tuesday afternoons and frequently talk about going to the café leading up to the scheduled time.”

As the Café’s Tuesday barista, I absolutely enjoy the hustle and bustle that comes with preparing the beverages. Artman’s Inspiration Café resembles the show, “Cheers” where everyone knows my name and I know their drink of choice.

For convenience, the Café offers a ‘drive through’ service where residents can take their beverages to go for themselves or for friends who aren’t feeling well enough to leave their room.

The café offers the opportunity to foster new bonds and share treasured memories and life stories with old and new acquaintances. During my time spent making coffee, I have overheard some heartwarming sentiments such as, “The last time I had a cup of coffee was in WW II. I must have liked it then, but I don’t like it now.” And, “Sitting here reminds me of being in my parents’ bakery when I was a little girl.”

Established in 2017, the Inspiration Café has become the place to be. So, next time you happen to be at Artman on a Tuesday afternoon or here for Sunday’s mass, make a plan to visit this aroma filled coffee nook. You will find yourself enthralled with the charm of the Inspiration Café!

According to Audrey Hepburn, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” At Artman, the All Seasons Garden inspires residents, serving as a location for social activities, reflection and relaxation.

For Richard, his work as a landscape architect is like painting a masterpiece.

Richard, a resident of our community, worked as a landscape architect for more than fifty years. He shares what gardens mean to him, “Gardens can move you and make you feel emotion. They have the potential to be sources of such beauty that they take your breath away. Gardens are a source of renewal and joy.”

Katelyn, Artman’s director of community life, is excited about the new possibilities in resident care these raised beds will provide. “Raised flower beds will increase access to plants for our residents to touch, smell and see. These sensory activities will contribute to their emotional and physical health, while strengthening cognitive wellbeing and memory.”

Now that the weather is nice, residents and family members are out in the garden more, enjoying the sun, the beauty of the blooms, and the buzz of activity from the creatures who live there, including a mother duck and her ten ducklings. It brings such joy to all.

To Richard, gardens are a source of renewal and joy.

“Whether we’re relaxing on the patio or by the pond, or admiring the garden from inside, the residents get so much out of it,” Richard says. “New plants will help its beauty last, and the addition of lights will help us enjoy the garden for longer periods of time.”

“Garden design is a true art form for Dad,” Gina, Richard’s daughter shares. “He dedicated a lot of his life to creating beautiful spaces with meticulous consideration for each plant and what it added. For him it was like composing a symphony or painting a masterpiece. I know Artman’s outdoor space means a lot to Dad and his friends at the community.”

Wondering how the new tax law will affect your charitable giving? Here’s a snapshot of some of the things that changed and stayed the same.

What changed that has many donors looking for additional ways to reduce their 2018 taxes?

Standard deduction was doubled ($12,000 single, $24,000 couples), meaning less people will itemize on their 2018 tax return. If you itemized on your 2017 tax return, look at line 40 on the 1040 form to see if you’re affected.

Deductions for state and local taxes are now limited to $10,000.

What stayed the same and can be used as an option for a charitable donation?

You pay no capital gains tax on gifts of appreciated securities or real estate, whether you itemize or not.

You can still make a gift from an IRA through the Qualified Charitable Distribution (available to those who are 70.5 years of age or older).

Email Patty Cline for information on making a gift of securities or from an IRA. Find more information about changes in the new tax law here on Liberty Lutheran’s website.

Nursing is one of the Fine Arts: I had almost said the finest of Fine Arts. – Florence Nightingale

National Nurses Week is officially celebrated from May 6 to May 12. At Liberty Lutheran, and in all our communities, we recognize and applaud the work done by each and every member of our nursing staff. Day in and day out, our registered nurses (RN), certified nursing assistants (CNA), and licensed practical nurses (LPN) impact the lives of our residents in tremendous ways.

The American Nurses Association’s theme for National Nurses Week 2018 is ‘Nurses: Inspire, Innovate, Influence.” In recent letters from residents and their family members to the staff at Paul’s Run, Artman, The Village at Penn State, and The Hearth at Drexel, the words used to describe the nursing staff echoed that theme. Some of those words include: Helpful. Highly efficient. Sacred. Awesome. Wonderful. Respectful. Compassionate. Just like family.

“The care provided by our nursing staff is second to none,” said Dana O’Donnell, executive director of The Hearth at Drexel. “Their dedication to the wellbeing of each resident is unrivaled and their willingness to go the extra mile is heartwarming. Each day I witness acts of kindness and generosity that go above and beyond their regular duties. Whether it’s stopping to take part in a resident event, or offering an uplifting hug the compassion and skill of our team moves me daily.”

At Liberty Lutheran, we are keeping a close watch on the proposed changes to the United States tax code. While the changes have yet to be finalized, there are aspects being proposed that may affect the residents and members of our communities.

For the seniors in our care, there are two major changes that could affect their wellbeing and their carefully constructed budgets that were planned years in advance.

Any proposed changes in Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare, services many of our residents rely on, would mean more out of pocket expenses. Changes in medical deduction allowances affect seniors disproportionately as many have come to rely on those deductions.

Combined, these changes could be devastating to our residents who live on fixed-incomes. As they exhaust their savings much earlier than ever expected, this could lead to more residents depending on Liberty’s benevolent care program.

There are two other ways to make a gift and save on taxes by the end of the year.

Consider donating appreciated stock, bonds or mutual fund shares, which allows you to take a charitable deduction for the fair market value of the stock and avoid the capital gains tax that you would pay if you sold the shares and then donated the proceeds to Liberty Lutheran. Click here for more information.

Some people have found that a convenient way to support Liberty Lutheran is through a tax benefit known as the Charitable IRA Rollover. For those who are 70½ years of age or older, this benefit allows you to give up to $100,000 from an IRA to a charity, with the donation counting towards your minimum required distribution. The benefit – the donor can deduct the full amount of the donation from gross income for tax purposes. Click here for more information on IRAs.

We are truly grateful for your support and friendship, and hope you will consider Liberty Lutheran Services among your year-end charitable giving decisions.

Thanksgiving is a time when we traditionally pause to consider everything we appreciate about our lives and those that surround us. It also reminds us that there are many worthy causes that need our support.

After you finish your “Black Friday” and “Cyber Monday” holiday shopping, please consider giving back to your community and helping so many in need with a gift to Liberty Lutheran on what is known as “Giving Tuesday” – Tuesday, November 28.

Help Bring Nature’s Beauty to Seniors
Nature is medicine for the soul. At Paul’s Run, nature abounds in our gardens and outdoor spaces. Located throughout our property, these specially designed and maintained areas inspire and bring joy to our residents.
Help us raise $3,000 to delight the hearts and souls of the Paul’s Run community by sustaining and improving our gardens – The Friendship Garden, The Secret Garden, and the Liberty Walk Garden.You can make your gift here.

Help Improve the Health & Wellbeing of West Philly Seniors
Health is a blessing, never to be taken for granted. With your help, the West Philadelphia Senior Community Center can save another life.
LCFS’ West Philadelphia Senior Community Center stands as an integral resource for older adults in West Philadelphia, providing services to one of the city’s most underserved communities. Daily we are improving lives through nutrition and wellness programs.You can make your gift here.

Liberty Lutheran and our Family of Services are proud to join other organizations, charities, community centers, businesses, families, students and others from across the world for the #GivingTuesday philanthropic movement.

You can follow the progress of our #GivingTuesday campaigns by following Liberty Lutheran on Twitter @LibertyLutheran.

While celebrating 100 Years of Care at Artman, the archives have been opened to explore the real history of our beloved home. Before The Haywood Mansion became Artman, the original location was in Sellersville, PA. The following article was printed in the Sellersville Herald on November 27, 1913 – three years before the original site was to open. Take a look back on what people then thought of the idea of bringing “The Artman Home for Deserving Lutherans of all Ages and Both Sexes” to their town.

Sections are illegible because of age, but here is some of the content exactly as it appeared:

Does Sellersville Want and Will It Aid the Artman Home?

Original article from November 27, 1913.

As printed in the Sellersville Herald, November 27, 1913

Trustees of Splendid Charitable Institution, Made Possible by Philanthropy of the Late Enos R. Artman, Now Looking for Suitable Site on which to Erect Buildings—Sellersville under Consideration but Residents Must Work to Get It Here—Will Develop into Mammoth Project.

“The location of the Artman Home in this locality would undoubtedly result in great advantage and benefit to this community. When it develops into an important institution and when large Chautauqua and other gatherings are held, numerous people would sojourn here for weeks at a time and would no doubt over-tax the facilities of the Home and seek accommodations in the hotels and homes of many of the residents. A large force of employees will no doubt also be required in time. The erection of the buildings and the improvement of the grounds would furnish employment for many workmen and after the institution is in operation, large quantities of food and other supplies will be consumed.

The original tracts of land that would become the Artman Home in Sellersville.

In fact the possibilities—social, economic and industrial in the establishment of such an institution in the environs of Sellersville cannot begin to be seen. ‘It would put Sellersville on the map’ was the way one enthusiastic citizen expressed it in discussing the matter yesterday afternoon, and we agree most heartily. It would put our borough on the map in many ways, not the least of which would be the undoubted prestige that would come to us in the eyes of the transportation companies, for the patronage from the local stations would be largely increased.

The Sellersville Vacation Home circa 1945 when it was owned by the Willow Brook Farm.

While the projected institution will be denominational, this should not in the least deter the residents of the town as a united body from using every means in their power to bring it here. Let men of every denomination, every creed, every class, businessmen, professional men, mechanics, laborers—all—unite in one great, brotherly effort to bring to our town what will undoubtedly prove of greater benefit in every way than any industry or institution now located in this section of the country.

The original Sellersville property is now a private home. Photo taken in April 2016.

Going through the archives at Artman has been a delightful experience. Reading documents from over 100 years ago that tell the story of the start of our beloved community is eye-opening. Some of the more interesting documents are receipts for services complete with dates and prices of the items.
As we celebrate A Century of Care, learn more about Artman’s history by visiting our dedicated site, complete with blogs, photos and a memory book where you can share your stories about Artman.

“The path of your life can change in an instant” ~ Author Ann Brashares ~

In July 2015 this truism took on a new and formidable meaning for Paulette. That was the fateful month when Paulette fell severely ill. After being rushed to the hospital, doctors discovered she suffered from a ruptured bowel, a critical condition that can cause a fatal infection.

As a nurse for almost 50 years, Paulette knew this meant immediate surgery. She also knew by the concerned look on the surgeon’s face that there was considerable risk involved.

Ultimately, Paulette successfully weathered the surgery. Yet, the end result left her with a colostomy, a dreaded circumstance that she knew all too well would require life-changing alterations.

We recently completed our new short-term care facility—the place where Paulette underwent most of her rehabilitation. She will tell you that caring staff gave her undivided attention, responded rapidly to any concern, wisely used the latest technology to provide after-hours bedside care from a physician, and helped her to remain active and socially connected.

“I’m a nurse so I know what is supposed to happen and what isn’t supposed to happen and I can truthfully say that everyone I met at Artman was super. The personalization of the care was awesome. The new short-term rehab was beautiful beyond anything I’ve ever seen. It was like living in someone’s big, spacious home. I received superb care and the staff took care of every little detail.” ~ Paulette ~

Now she is back at home and once again enjoying her independence. Paulette’s outcome is the benchmark our new short-term rehabilitation facility strives to achieve for every individual we care for and serve.

The facility represents a convergence of best practices in care, service, technology, and design. Along with our other services provided at Artman for all of our short and long term residents, your support helps to provide loving and compassionate care to all.